SUPERCOMPUTERS: Scratch One Supergenius

Scratch One Supergenius

For most of its 15-year history, Cray Research of Minneapolis has dominated the market for supercomputers, those $15 million, lightning number crunchers used for everything from the search for oil deposits to the design of nuclear weapons. The company has boasted two star computer engineers: Founder Seymour Cray, 62, and Steve Chen, 43, the Chinese-born immigrant who designed the Cray X-MP, the company's best-selling machine. Last weeksupercomputerdom's best and brightest duo decided to split up. In a move that shocked the investment community -- and sent Cray's stock tumbling 8 1/2 points in a single day -- the company announced the...